One person was killed and five others were wounded in the shooting in Baton Rouge, La.
Credit: WWLTV/YouTube
NEED TO KNOW
- One person was killed and at least another five were injured in a shooting at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge, La.
- Witness Ryan Johnson told WWL he saw “bodies on the ground” following the shooting
- A 17-year-old high school senior was killed in the shooting
A man who witnessed the mass shooting at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge, La., said he saw "bodies on the ground."
A teen was killed and at least five other people were wounded during the shooting on Thursday, April 23, according to reports from WDSU, WBRZ and WWL.
Authorities said the shooting stemmed from an argument between two groups of people in the mall's food court, per WBRZ.
Ryan Johnson was in the mall's food court with a friend when the shots rang out, he told WWL.
“I'm grateful to be alive," he told the outlet. "God's got me.”
Johnson said he and a small group of others ran into a store for cover after hearing the shots.
"I was kind of in shock," he said.
Johnson said the store's gate was lowered and that he remained there for about 10 minutes.
“It was mass hysteria, officers running around with assault rifles," he told the outlet. "There were bodies on the ground. It was just bad.”
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WAFB reported that the victim killed in the shooting has been identified as Martha Odom, a 17-year-old senior at Ascension Episcopal School.
Two other seniors are being treated after being shot, per the outlet.
Authorities have not yet announced any arrests in connection with the shooting, but the outlets reported that police said five individuals were taken into custody in the aftermath.
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